Villanova Senior Day: A New Era for the Poignant Moment

Villanova Men’s Basketball celebrated senior night in their regular season finale against Xavier on Saturday, March 7, a ceremony that has a different meaning in the era of the transfer portal. Of the three seniors who walked, two of them spent just one season on the Main Line — the other, former walk-on Wade Chiddick, made his way onto the roster after serving as a practice player during the 2023-24 campaign.

While players who stop at two, three, four, or even five schools — like Villanova super senior Devin Askew — might not build the same connection to a campus as an athlete who spends the duration of their college career there, it’s still a poignant ceremony. Only a fraction of college athletes continue on to the professional ranks. Askew described what made Villanova the right choice for him for his sixth and final year in college.

“I had an amazing visit. It was Coach Willard and the players that were coming, and also the whole staff,” Askew said. “Everyone was just about winning and being ready. You never really know until you get into it, and I’m just thankful I made the right choice.”

Fellow senior Duke Brennan, who played at two schools before Villanova, joked that facing head coach Kevin Willard’s Maryland team in the Round of 64 last season helped him make up his mind.

“I got pressed for 40 minutes in March Madness and couldn’t score,” Brennan said, “So then I was like, ‘I want to be on that guy’s team.’ That’s basically how it went.”

Even in this transient era of college sports, Willard’s first senior class gave him an important opportunity to build the culture he envisions for the Wildcats. 

Senior Culture Remains

Willard added that the ‘Villanova Way’ already present made his job easier.

“All these guys really bought into what my vision was and the way I wanted to play. Guys sacrificed: Dev coming off the bench, certain guys not getting as many minutes,” Willard said. “Everybody sacrificed a little something. It’s not easy sometimes trying to put your vision on it. But I’m lucky that I’m at a place that has had decades of unbelievable culture. I think it just seeps through the walls to be honest with you.”

After their Feb. 25 win over Butler, Willard described Askew as the best practice player he’s ever had, praising the senior for how he set the tone for his younger teammates. Willard described a similar relationship with Brennan, saying that the 6-foot-10 forward backs up his leadership through the example he sets in practice.

“I got to play against him last year. I knew what a warrior he was, but I just didn’t know how good of a person he was. Obviously, he’s been the backbone of our inside all year. He’s been a great leader… when he speaks, he backs it up because of how hard he works,” Willard said. 

“I think he represents what all of the former players that played here represent. He is a phenomenal person. Just to be able to coach such a good person – same thing with Dev – is awesome. Two great guys who are awesome in the locker room and great representatives of this University.”

“I try to push those dudes,” Brennan chimed in, “especially with a younger team.”

As Kevin Willard tries to restore Villanova to its championship expectations, can one year of Duke Brennan and Devin Askew set the foundation?